Egypt has affirmed its commitment to preserving its water rights in the Nile River and rejected the unilateral measures being implemented by Ethiopia in the southern basin of the river.
In a joint statement from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Water Resources and Irrigation on Thursday, Ministers Badr Abdel-Ati and Hani Sweilam discussed coordinating efforts to defend national interests, which are a priority for national security, and to strengthen historical relations and cooperation with Nile Basin countries.
According to the statement, the ministers stressed that “Egypt has always been committed to cooperation and achieving mutual benefit with all sister nations of the Nile Basin, and we are certain that preserving Egyptian water security does not mean impacting the developmental interests of the sister Nile Basin countries.”
The statement confirmed that the “desired balance can be achieved by adhering to the rules of international law for the governance of the Nile River and the necessity of cooperation to achieve mutual benefit on the basis of international law.” The ministers also discussed the latest developments in the ongoing consultative process within the Nile Basin Initiative to restore consensus and inclusivity among member states.
Protecting national interests
The ministers affirmed Egypt’s complete rejection of the unilateral measures that violate international law in the Eastern Nile Basin. The statement confirmed that Egypt will continue to monitor developments closely and will take all measures guaranteed to it under international law to protect the existential capabilities of its people.
The two ministers agreed to continue consultation and coordination to ensure the achievement of national goals and the protection of Egyptian water security.
They also discussed monitoring the implementation of projects that the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation plans to carry out in the coming period to enhance cooperation with Nile Basin countries. This includes the Mabakana dam project for hydroelectric power in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which will be financed through a new Egyptian funding mechanism for infrastructure projects in the Southern Nile Basin.
The ministers also confirmed Egypt’s historical and continuous support for development efforts in Nile Basin countries, especially those in the Southern Nile Basin.
They reviewed the latest developments in various cooperation mechanisms, including a new Egyptian funding mechanism with an initial budget of $100 million for the study and implementation of development and infrastructure projects, such as dams, in the Southern Nile Basin countries, as well as the role of the Egyptian Partnership for Development Agency and the Egyptian Initiative for Nile Basin Development.
